Comeback Kings Fight to Keep Crown

Manchester United staged a stunning fightback in an enthralling encounter at Stamford Bridge, leaving Chelsea bewildered, staunchly reminding critics to doubt them at their own peril.

Alex Ferguson has vehemently denied that his current squad lacks the class of previous sides, although their faltering progress in cup competitions this term is evidence against such claims.

Perfect execution from Mata

Yet when United produce a display such as they did in the second half against Chelsea, correcting a three goal deficit, it serves as a firm implication that they will not relinquish their crown with ease.

A Jonny Evans own goal put the home side ahead, with a scintillating strike from Juan Mata and a deflected David Luiz header sailing Chelsea into a three goal lead and the Stamford Bridge faithful into a frenzy.

But the game was not finished and neither were Manchester United.

Clumsy defending from the home team and a touch of good fortune allowed Wayne Rooney to convert two penalties, with a dramatic header from Javier Hernandez sparking scenes of jubilation for the visitors.

Chelsea could have snatched a winner, but David de Gea defied his critics with two stunning saves in the dying minutes, from a wonderfully executed Mata free-kick and a powerful drive by debutant Gary Cahill.

An enticing spectacle for the neutral and a wonderful advert for Premier League football, the contest was summarised by Alex Ferguson, as a game that “epitomises English football”.

Welbeck earns soft penalty

The outcome saw the champions fall two points adrift of neighbours Manchester City in the title race, but given the context of the game, United will view this as one point gained in a match showcasing their famous never-say-die attitude.

For Chelsea, it was a missed opportunity to solidify their position in the top four as they remain just a solitary point ahead of fifth place Newcastle.

Chelsea had never failed to win a game in which they had led by three goals, but a defence void of injured captain John Terry and suspended full-back Ashley Cole, always looked delicate.

A cagey atmosphere saw Rio Ferdinand booed with every touch of the ball and Alex Ferguson as animated as ever, following Cahill’s last ditch tackle on Danny Welbeck.

Rooney nets from the spot

First contact was outside the box but the former Bolton man found himself extremely fortunate to escape unpunished by the clumsy challenge, admitting he was “slightly fortunate to get away with that one”.

Despite United’s apparent dominance it was Chelsea who took the lead, when Daniel Sturridge skilfully outwitted Patrice Evra, seeing his cut-back deflected into the United net via the torso of Evans..

What promised to be a tight clash in the second half was anything but that for the opening thirteen minutes.

With only twenty-four seconds on the clock, Patrice Evra was caught wondering wildly out of position, not for the first time this season, allowing Torres to gather the ball unchallenged on Chelsea’s right flank. The Spaniard looked up once, sending a missile directly onto the boot of his fellow countryman at United’s back post, where Mata slammed home to double their lead.

Four minutes later, Mata turned provider, delivering a fizzling free-kick, met by a rising David Luiz, whose header deflected off Ferdinand into the top corner, wrong-footing the helpless De Gea.

Hernandez heads home

Evra’s desire is unquestionable, however, having contributed in part to all three Chelsea goals, Ferguson will surely have stern words with his skipper prior to facing Liverpool on Saturday.

With United dazed and confused, Chelsea fans began their celebrations, only to be halted by a penalty awarded to the visitors when Sturridge carelessly clattered into Evra just before the hour.

With mixed fortunes from the spot this season, Rooney made no mistake this time, thrashing the ball into the top corner à la Shearer. He returned to the centre circle instantly, illustrating his belief that there was more to come.

He was right.

De Gea denies Mata

A hungry Welbeck battled with Branislav Ivanovic in the area, leading to the award of United’s second spot-kick, though the replay suggested minimal contact and André Villas-Boas labelled the decision “absurd”.

Rooney kept his cool once again, despatching the ball to Cech’s left as he leapt in the opposite direction.

Chelsea players, aggrieved at the soft nature of referee Howard Webb’s penalty decision, appeared to self-destruct. Villas-Boas replaced a disgruntled Sturridge with Oriol Romeu, a negative substitution further handing momentum to United.

Ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho declared his frustration on numerous occasions with regard to lesser teams “parking the team bus” in front of goal to prevent superior opposition from scoring. Ironically, this was the modern Chelsea’s tactic and it failed.

Paul Scholes enjoyed a cameo role, exhibiting a flawless array of passes, but it was his only senior teammate Ryan Giggs that provided the pinpoint cross for Hernandez to nod United onto equal terms.

De Gea went someway to recovering his heavily tarnished reputation with two highly acrobatic displays, reiterating his shot-stopping skills and while question marks still remain over his aerial ability, he earned some welcome respite from his critics.

Villas-Boas left frustrated

An explosive second half culminated in stalemate, but owing to the manner of the result, Chelsea’s players trudged off the pitch in disappointment having sacrificed such a handsome lead.

As the current champions continue to be lambasted by some section of the media who will talk of two points dropped, their rivals will have viewed their spirited performance as a sign of danger that their best is yet to come.

Wayne Rooney spearheaded United’s assault, epitomising his manager’s tenacious character and even showed shades of Ferguson in his post-match interview, stating,  “We fought well and that point could win us the league… all the City players sitting there at home won't have enjoyed watching us recover, the way we fought back and the spirit of the team.”

As the march towards 'squeaky-bum time' gathers pace, City maintain the upper hand, but Rooney issued a kind reminder that United, inadequate as they may be, "will be there right to the end".

Written by Dom Wallace

United Hope City Come Unstuck at Toffees

Inconsistency has been at the heart of Manchester United's lacklustre season thus far and with a spirited win at the Emirates, despite sporting a depleted squad through injury, one had reason to believe the champions stood to beat Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.

De Gea fails under high ball

However, with David De Gea's reoccurring inability to deal with the high ball and a lapse of concentration from captain Evra two minutes from time, The Kop was treated to a sweet victory over their bitter rivals.

United had dominated possession for long periods, but lacking the potency of Rooney and with a reliance on the enthusiasm of young gun Welbeck, United failed to create an abundance of clear cut chances. Liverpool were outplayed and chasing the ball for the majority of the game but when it mattered that man Dirk Kuyt once again pounced to pour more misery on United's campaign.

Tonight, The Red Devils will still have one eye on Merseyside, in hope that Everton can salvage something against a Manchester City side that have only been victorious on three of their last eight outings in all competitions.

All three victories have been in the league however and David Moyes' men have only mustered as many wins at Goodison all season. Everton go into the game having failed to score more than once in their last ten premier league games and without a backbone of senior professionals including Jagielka, Distin, Rodwell and Osman.

Captain Kompany set to return

 The Citizens have netted as many times this season as they did in their whole campaign last year and will welcome back skipper Vincent Kompany from suspension.

Old Trafford will welcome back Rio Ferdinand to a United team that boasts only two victories from their last four premier league fixtures. Although, it may be more of a concern that they are likely to continue without Wayne Rooney, who Ferguson will not rush back from an ankle injury sustained against Arsenal.

It is the first time in premier league history that United have been eliminated from both Champions League and FA Cup competitions at this stage in the season. Retaining the Premier League title is the name of the game for the champions now and they start the race to the finish line against a notoriously physical Stoke City side that will be playing to win.

Stoke still remain in two cup competitions, although only one victory in the last six league matches suggests the players are feeling the strains of such demands. To boot, Stoke's last win at Old Trafford was nearly thirty-six years ago so the Stretford End will be expecting nothing less than the full three points.

City face the next six premier league fixtures against teams from the lower half of the table so will be aiming for three points tonight to set them on their way to opening up the gap even further between themselves and United.

Moyes and Mancini see eye-to-eye

However, with relations still strained between City and Everton since the Lescott affair, United hope a hostile Goodison crowd will rile up The Toffees enough to take the game to their opponents, providing the fearless approach that has upset the league leaders on more than one occasion recently.

The current champions will know it is how they perform that really counts, rather than relying on others and will be keen to go on a winning streak of their own. They will welcome any slip ups from their Noisy Neighbours but know from experience that they must begin to perform more consistently in this second half of the season to ensure their only hopes of domestic silverware remain alive.

Written by Dom Wallace